| Description | Interview with Sir William Stubbs, second Rector of The London Institute from 1996 to 2001.
The interview can be accessed in QuickTime Movie and Waveform Audio formats, and a transcript is also available.
Interview description:
Video 1 [00:00] William Stubbs, Education Officer of the ILEA [00:30] ILEA responsibility for education in Inner London [01:12] Discusses background; education administration; teaching; research in the United States in chemistry; [02:10] Discusses period of pressure in ILEA; budget; politics; schools under review; added curriculum and special education. [03:41] Neil Fletcher inclusion of FE; changes to FE and HE; significant for London; financial pressures; London in political spotlight. [05:07] Deputy responsible for FE and HE was Philip Hunter; led review; ILEA focus. [06:05] Art and Design colleges included in review; UK polytechnics had art and design faculties; free standing colleges nervous; wanted to avoid inclusion in polytechnics. [07:47] Review published; polytechnics national organisations; recommended a combined art and design organisation; similar status as polytechnics. [10:01] Motivation for forming the Institute; defensive; positive in wanting to continue practice. [10:50] Objectives; avoid unnecessary overlap; prominence nationally; grow internationally. [12:05] Initial resistance in establishment of institution; Central School of Speech and Drama resisted, performing arts an omission in the Institute; City of London's polytechnic music, instruments and design resisted. [14:22] Remaining members accept losing autonomy; needed a leader; John McKenzie best candidate. [16:01] John McKenzie's role; to establish Institute; keep it running; stop it being excluded from HE sector; tenure as education officer ended in 1988. [18:10] Set up funding body for HE in UK; John McKenzie established case for involvement; lobbying. [19:33] Neil Fletcher; discusses possible disappointment at insecurity; local government resistance; central government passed legislation. [20:58] Set up new funding institution; emphasise responsibility for public money and representative for institutions. [21:59] Conversation with John McKenzie about funding; complicated by 1/3 FE funding. [22:42] Discusses J. McKenzie's triumph in inclusion in new HE landscape; freedom with resources; budget of new institution. [24:27] Addressed number of colleges; duplication. Central and St Martin's merger; John McKenzie and Neil Fletcher's involvement; naming of new college [26:36] Scattered college sites as a challenge; John McKenzie success in overseas recruitment; EU membership. [29:09]
Video 2 [00:00] Establishing PCFC; felt optimism from colleges; parliamentary interest and inquiry. [02:45] First report laudatory; successful in securing more money; polytechnics grew and established national positions. [04:17] Government interested in same model for FE; Bill passed; set up second organisation. Support in financial matters from Roger McClure; funding review. [07:06] Successful report. London Institute then funded nationally; freestanding organisation. John McKenzie announced retirement [08:33] Phonecall to meet John and invitation to lead London Institute; encouraged recruitment of other candidates; ask to join. [11:02] Appeal; established; exciting future; had background; London knowledge. [12:25] Priorities in job; financial administration; efficiency; Roger McClure appointed. Other HE colleges had become universities [14:19] felt it was imperative the London Institute became a university; had entered agreement with the Open University to award degrees. [15:43] Needed strong research; research funding had to be won; established a group with rector of Royal Academy of Art, the Principal of the Roehampton Institute; similarities with Roehampton. [18:59] Awarding of honorary degrees lacked rigour; set up a group with VC of Oxford; rigorous process implemented. [20:15] Addressed quality of buildings; Chelsea relocation to the Embankment; building history as a prison; military hospital. [23:39] Looked at suitability of buildings; built case and demonstrate finances; 2 year process; persuasion of stakeholders; competition with Agrikhan?; [26:56] Success due to; political pressure; London support; treasury; local product. [28:28] Central St Martin's buildings scattered; Kings Cross developments; architect competition for new building [30:03] Develop Chelsea and build CSM; LCC at Elephant and Castle; close to printing history; improvements to building; LCF no immediate prospect for development; Camberwell improvements. Two priorities were recognition and improvement of building stock. [33:20]
Video 3 [00:00] John McKenzie's establishment of international programme; assisted finance of institution; building and leasing accommodation. [00:48] John McKenzie's continued involved in international activities; contribution to current success. [03:29] Equal opportunities; beginnings in ILEA in 1980s; data collection; policies. [06:34] Institutional adoption of equal opportunities; female domination of courses; middle class representation. [08:15] Recruitment; monitoring; publicity; course content; differences to current issues. [10:05] Links of institution to professional practice; LCP links to printing industry; college networks; professionals as teachers. [12:19] Queen's Anniversary Prize 1996 awarded to Camberwell; paper conservation; involvement in panel; decision process. [16:02] Awarding of prize; students meeting royal family; second award; quality of Institute. [17:21] Discusses creativity of students as a keystone of institution. [19:40] Discusses decision to leave; age; Chairman of FE qualification organisation; became CEO; Chair of NHS Trust in Oxford. [22:05] Discusses decision to keep distance; visiting student exhibitions. [22:53] Discusses staff; high calibre teachers; creative professionals. [24:19] Relationship with governors; committee structure for decision-making; Will Wyatt; governor's contributions; own enjoyment of process. [28:46]
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